"Hardwar, Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib

Australia India Society of
Victoria is an integrated nonsectarian, Indian Association in
Victoria. It represents Indians and
Australians from many parts of the
world.
AISV membership is open for
anyone who is interested in India,
her culture and her people.
The
A monthly newsletter of Australia India Society of Victoria Inc
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Vol 25/03 March, 2002
promote
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"Hardwar, Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib-A trip of a lifetime"
by: Dr. G. Aurora
where \V2"'vIslted the local {Jilfdwara-and-hada-tea -brea~~e-left
soon for our final stop Srinagar for the night. We did not stop at
Hardwar on the way as the best time to visit the holy site was during
daytime. We arrived in Srinagar late at night and had dinner there in a
local restaurant. Tarwinder had visited the restaurant before and found
the eating-place very clean with a high quality of food. Our
accommodation was in a government guesthouse, which was well
maintained and clean.
For an agnostic like me it is not an easy task to write on a trip to
Hardwar, Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib. I do not mind in the least
admitting that I at the beginning, was, a very reluctant traveller for
this trip that was planned by my wife. I do not feel ashamed by
confessing that she more than adequately compensates for my
somewhat sceptic views towards religion very adequately by her
unflinching devotion and utmost dedication not only to her own
religion Sikhism, but also respect for the Hindu religion. My own up
bringing has taught me to respect all religions and I do follow that
philosophy most 'religiously'.
We left Sri nagar at 7.00AM for Gobind Ghat, where we spent the
night before trekking to Gobind Dham and Hemkunt Sahib. A stop at
Badrinath temple preceded our night stay at Gobind Ghat. The scenic
The travelling party were to be my wife and me, along with my sisterin law and brother in law along with a family of five and two of their
friends. Tarwinder Singh was the group leader and had been going to
Hemkunt Sahib every year for the last fifteen years or so. Located in
the Uttarkhand Himalayas bordering Tibet and Nepal, Hemkunt Sahib
is accessible for only four months of the year. Long before the Sikhs
discovered Hemkunt, the place was well known to the local people
who live in the nearby villages as a place of pilgrimage. Tarwinder
advised us in great detail of the apparel we would need for this trip;
sleeping bags, type of woollens, bed sheets etc. We also carried with
us several cartons of water bottles, fruits, sweets, savouries and
beauty from Rishkesh to Sri nagar and then Badrinath, with mountains
and the two main streams of the Ganges, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
flowing between them all along the trip was overwhelming,
something that one needs to see and encounter to believe it and revel
in its beauty. Alaknanda and Bhagirathi unite at Devprayag to fonn
the main stream known as the Ganga. which cuts through the southern
Himalayas to emerge from the mountains at Rishkesh. It then flows
onto the plain at Hardwar. We stopped for lunch in a town called
"Peepal Kothi". Peepal Kothi is a small town with very good
restaurants providing tandoori roti and naan served with delicious
vegetarian dishes.
biscuits. Tarwinder had booked all the accommodation and naturally
We then went straight to Badrinath ji temple situated at Badrinath
he was very aware that the lodgings had to be clean with good toilets
(mountain) peak of the main Himalayas. It is an uninhabited village
and bathrooms.
and shrine in northern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. Situated in
Tarwinder had hired a twelve-seater air-conditioned tourist bus with
the H~malayas along a headstream of the Ganges River, it lies at ~n
very comfortable seats and an excellent music system. The driver and
elevatI~n ~f about 10.•000 ~~et (3,050 m~. On the slope~ of thiS
his jockey were very experienced and the driver had been on the trip - m?untam 15_t~e Badnnath. JLtem~Je _de(hcat:d JO
!I~du god
several times in the past. This was very important as the roads on the
VIshnu who dId penance m Badnnath. Badn?ath I~ an Important
mountains to Badrinath and Hemkunt were some of the most
Hindu shrine and one of the most sacred places III India and has been
treacherous I have seen in my life. In some places traffic was only
a well-known
y~~.
allowed one way at a time, as the roads were not wide enough to
allow two vehicles to pass each other simultaneously. There were
boom gates with specified times for travel in each direction. The roads
and the flow of traffic are under the control of the Indian army at all
times.
pilgrimage centre for more than 2,000 years. Nearby is the hot springs
of Tapt Kund (warmed by Agni. the god of fire) where many pilgrims
bathe. Badrinath is almost uninhabited in winter and very busy with
pilgrims in summer. It was not very crowded when we reached there
and we had ample time to offer our prayers to god Vishnu.
We started from Gurdwara BangIa Sahib in New Delhi on 26
September at 12.15 PM as we had to pick up Tarwinder's two
children from school at 1.00 PM. Delhi was hot and the temperature
was around 36 degrees Celsius. In hindsight, perhaps an early start,
around I GAM, would have been more appropriate as we reached our
first night's stop in Srinagar (UP) at 9.30 PM.
Badrinath was a cold town and one needs to carry a woollen jumper to
keep warm. I found the town to be very clean and the people
extremely friendly. The town is very colourful with the buildings
painted in bright colours. There was ample accommodation available
as it was nearing the close of the pilgrimage season, the town being
difficult to get to from November to April.
Our first halt was for a lunch break at "Cheetal" about two and a half
hours drive from New Delhi. Cheetal is like an oasis in a Desert. It is
an eating-place run by a non-resident Indian from USA. The place is
built over five acres of landscaped gardens (designed by a landscape
architect especially brought over from Singapore) with several
aviaries housing different species of birds. The service was equivalent
to any western style restaurant and the quality of food was absolutely
wonderful. We left Cheetal at 4.15PM for our next stop Rishkesh,
We spent two hours in Badrinath. However, when we were ready to
return to Gobind Dham we were told we could not leave the town.
The traffic was now coming from the other direction following which
the army vehicles have access to the roads to go to the Chinese border
about sixty kilometres away. We had not planned to stay the night at
Badrinath but the gate was closed and we could not leave. We were
stuck but had to obtain pennission to leave in order to meet our tightly
scheduled deadlines.
conli"Ul'd
..... 5
AISV Newsletter
From President's Desk
The Annual General Meetiug of Australia India Society
Victoria is to be held later this month and I would request
of you to attend the meeting. I have sent a letter to all
life-members of AISV to attend a special informal
meeting starting one hour prior to the AGM and
this would be a reminder for them to keep the AGM
date free. I would like to extend a similar invitation
to all members of AISV to attend this special
meeting starting at 2.30PM. The purpose of the
meeting is to have your input in the future direction
of the society.
of
all
AISV
The publication
Management
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AISV newsletter is a monthly publication. The
sale purpose of this newsletter is to maintain
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97642060 (Fax)
provide
up-la-date
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the
forthcoming cultural and social events in
Victoria.
It may cover topics such as history, travel,
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Indians in multicultural Australia. It is in no
wayan appropriate forum to express personal
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or
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gestures towards our own countrypeople. Any
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I would also like to publicly declare my posItIOn
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present committee to nominate for the position of
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by a member of the present committee. The evercommon excuse of not having time to join the
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Usha Sharma
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Tom
Newsletter:
Committee
The Victorian Indian Community Charitable Trust
K P Saratchandran(chair),
Suniti Betigeri,
(VICCT) has been inactive for some time. I am
Ahmad Keshtiar
Remesh Remesan, Umesh Pawar, Kalpana
trying my best once again to actively involve the
Pawar
0411 181331
community to get going the VICCT for the purpose
PR & Promotional:
Gurdip Arora{chair), Tom Thomas, Usha
of establishing
a retirement
village, hostel
Sharma, Tim Thomas
Kamala Chandu
accommodation and nursing home for the elderly
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93178859
including the building of a community centre and
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ethnic communities in Australia and Indians are the
Kamala Chandu(chair), Pratima Francis, Priya
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highest per capita earners in Australia but still do
Major Events:
not have a place they can identify with or call their
Tom Thomas
own. AISV and VICCT has learnt a lot from its
93333329
Koorie Fund:
previous experience of building the now defunct
Pratima Francis
Indian Community Resource Centre in Brunswick 1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Building sold to new owners and used as a
~
-' .-~
meditation and yoga centre) and would not make the same
~
~___
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T
mistakes again. If you are keen to become actively involve~
in the above project, please do get in touch with me.
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"Mehfil Night" - 2002!
The Australia India Society of Victoria organised monthly 'Mehfil' night will
commence the first program for the year 2002 on Friday March 16,2002.
It will be an open night!! An opportunity for all those 'closet singers' who would
want to express their hidden talents!! We will provide,as usual, an able orchestra.
So friends! Bring your songbooks, come out of your shyness and sing a few songs.
Surprise yourself and others with your hidden talents!!
Invite all your friends come and enjoy this fabulous program!!
.t.ell'il'
Ilhlllf- U Frhhl"'" IIUIHi~ul IIhlllf ItreHeilfed It,.",
ill "er,'i~e
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Day /
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Day
A .•••• '"
of file ~41nllll"lIlif,.",!
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Diary Dates 2002
Dishes of the Month
Friday, March 16,2002
'Mehfil
Chicken Biryani
Night' - A third Friday Musical
programme.
For details
refer page-3.
Ingredients
Sunday, Mareh 24, 2002
'AISV AGM' - 2002 Annual General Meeting of AISV will be
held at 'Coburg Library Meeting Hall, Cm Victoria & Louisa
SI.
Coburg (Mel Ref: 29G I). All financial members are urged to
Chicken - 600 gms (big pieces)
2 Onions - cut into thin slices and deep-fried till crisp
2 Potatoes- cut into long thin fingers and deep fried into potatoes
fingers.
Basmati Rice - 300 gms
Tomatoes - 3-4 nos medium (grated)
Onions - 3-4 big ones (grated)
Coriander - 112bunch chopped finely
Pudina leaves - 1 cup chopped finely
Thick curd (little sour) - 1 cup
Juice of one Lime
Jeera powder - 2 tbsp
Dhania powder - 2 tbsp
Garam Masala - 2 tbsp
Hing - I tbsp
Haldi • I tOOp
Black Pepper powder - 2 tbsp
Red Chilli powder. 4 tbsp (or as per taste)
4 tbsp -Ginger Garlic paste
2-3 Green Chillies - chopped finely
Saffron - few strands (mixed in Salt - as per taste
3-4 tbsp Everest Biryani Masala
attend.
Sunday, March 24, 2002
SBS Radiothom-Hindi
programme
raising funds for Royal
Childrens
Hospital.
AISV urge our members and friends to
contribute
generously
to this noble cause. Please tune inlo 93.1
FM at 9 am for further advise on the phone number etc.
If you wish to make a pledge
Saratchandran
on 9366-5444.
For enquiries
regardring
beforehand
the 'Radiothom',
please contact
please
Dr.
contact
Mrs.
Jaya Sharma on 9390-7971.
Whole Garam Masala
4 - Lavang, 2 sticks - Dalchini, 2-3 - Green Elaichi, Javitri,
2-Black Elaichi, Tej Patta - 3-4 leaves
Directory
Method:
I.
2.
Australia India Society of Victoria
Business Centre POBox 1000, Brunswick, 3056
Tel: 9310 7722 Fax: 93667660
Marinate chicken pieces in lemon juice. curd. salt.
Coriander leaves of the bunch. Pudina leaves - 1/4 cup.
Jccra powder. Dhania powder, Garam masala. Hing,
Haldi. Black pepper powder, Red chili powder, 2 tbsp
ginger garlic paste, green chilies chopped finely for at
least for 2-3 hrs.
Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs
POBox 241 E, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel.. 9235 3999 Fax..9235 3300
Ethnic Youth Issues Network
Heat 4-5 tbsp oil in kadahi and add chicken pieces. Fry
on high name till water evaporates and chicken becomes
dry and well fried. Remove only the pieces in a plate.
1/250 Gore Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
Tel.. 9419 9122 Fax.. 94160450
Contact: Ms Carmel Guerra
Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria
3.
Now in the same kadahi add remaining 2 tbsp ginger
garlic paste, then add grated onions. When onions
change color add grated tomatoes. Fry till oil separates.
Add 3-4 tsps Everest Biryani masala. Fry for a few
seconds and add.d1i.c.l;en pieces fried earlier. Ad.q.JiJ:!Jc;
In another kadahi, Heat ghee.
fry bas mati rice for 5 minutes
add water and a few drops of
each grain separates. Remove
let it cool.
High Commission
3-5 Moonah Place,
of India
Yarralumla
ACT 2600
-~~-Ter:06-273
3999~733774-FaX:06-273 3328-.Honorary Consul for India
water Cook for few minutes,
4.
POBox 2554W Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel/Fax: 95212300
Add whole garam masala,
till it changes colour and
lime juice. Cook rice till
and spread in a plate and
15 Munro Street, Coburg, VIC 3058
Tel.. 93840141 Fax: 9384 1609
Indian Resource Centre
47 Grantham
Street,
Brunswick,
3055
Multicultural Arts Victoria
5.
Heat ghee in a vessel (in which all the rice and chicken
can fit) add half lhe chicken piece along with gravy.
Add few tsp curd, few chopped coriander, few pudina
leaves chopped, potato fingers, fried onions, little ghee.
6.Now add half the rice repeat this and let rice be the top most
layer. Add few tsp ghee on the top most rice layer, fried
onions and potato. Cover tightly and cook on indirect
(place heated tava on the gas and then keep the
name
10 min.
vessel) for 87.
Uncover and serve with chopped onion, lemon wedges, thick
curd. Enjoy.
Source Unknown
156 George Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Tel.. 9417 6777 Fax: 9416 3342
Overseas Qualifications Unit
Level 25, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel.. 9655 6164 Fax..9655 6151
SBS Radio
PO Box 294, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Tel.. 9685 2525 Fax..9645 7482 Contact.. Mr Peter Horton
Victorian Co-operative on Children's Services for Ethnic
Groups
569 Nicholson Street North Carlton VIC 3054
Tel.. 9387 0177 Contact.. Mr John Zika
o
Hardwar, Badrinath and Hemkunt Sahib-A trip of a
lifetime
[rompagt 1
We drove back to the town to meet with the chief of the police who
was the only individual who could authorise our bus to leave. He
would have to communicate our departure from Badrinath to his
counterpart near Govind Ghat. I was assigned the task of speaking to
the chief of the police and after some diplomatic manoeuvring (no
bribe) we were able to get his approval for our bus to leave. It was
going to be a dangerous return trip and the driver was cautioned to
be very careful and watchful for on-coming traffic.
We arrived safely in Gobind Ghat, where we spent the night. We
had dinner in a local restaurant where again the quality of food was
excellent. Throughout the whole trip we had mostly vegetarian
dishes, tandoori nan and roli. The accommodation at Gobind Ghat
was average. The room was old with the plaster peeling off with the
attached bathroom and toilet in a dilapidated condition.
The next morning we left for Govind Dham at 7.00AM. We were
told to carry clothing for two days including essential items in a
cabin bag. Only minimal baggage was allowed as it was to be
camed on horse back. The rest of the baggage would remain in the
bus. It was cold and some people were wearing woollens. I was told
that it would become very warm with sunrise and that the woollens
would have to be taken off. I decide to do a brisk walk initially to
ward of the cold as I had opted not to wear any warm clothing. Later
I was very glad I made that decision against popular advice.
there were several eateries and the place was very crowded. It was
11.45AM. By this time 1 was in agonising pain. My legs were giving
way under me and I told myself that I would now hire a horse to
cover the remaining three kilometres. Then I saw the people from
our group who had opted to go on horse back. There were about to
leave. I told them they had made the right decision by opting to
travel on horse back. No they said. In a chorus they told me of their
very sore bottoms, coccyx bones and bruising on the inner thighs. I
was in a dilemma. Put up with painful legs or go by horse and get a
sore bottom and bruised thighs in addition. I decided to walk the
remaining three kilometres.
I had Tandoori aloo prantha and tea at one of the eateries while
resting. I negotiated with the owner that I would make my own tea
and he allowed me to do so. I lay flat on my back for an hour or so.
Tarwinder and Bunny arrived. They were an hour behind. They
asked me stay back with them. I had an extra forty five minutes rest
with them. We walked back together at a much slower pace and
reached Gobind Dham around 2.30 PM.
The accommodation in Gobind Dham was a government guest
house. It was below average, but the best available. We had to sleep
on bunk beds. The room was liuered with cobwebs and the
bathroom and the toilet had old fittings and leaking. We brushed off
the cobwebs, used our sleeping bags on top of the beds in the room
but slept well after that arduous trek. Hot water was available for
twenty rupees per bucket, ample for a quick bath.
At 12,000 feet it is not easy to build and maintain good
A few members of the group decided to cover the thirteen kilometre
accommodation. Moreover Gobind Dham is only open to the public
mountainous trip on horse back, while I along with Tarwinder and
for four months in a year. A nice professional massage of thirty
his friend Bunny decided to walk the distance. Tarwinder's mother
minutes duration for thirty rupees and a bucket of very hot water for
went on a "Palki" carried by four able bodied young men. It costs
a bath eased a significant amount of my pain and I slept well.
eight hundred rupees to hire a horse for the entire trip to Hemkunt
The following day the trek to Sri Hemkunt Sahib, six kilometres on
Sahib and four thousand rupees to hire a palki. While I wore proper
top of the mountain was started by our group at 7.00AM. A decision
hiking shoes, Tarwinder decided to go all the way to Gobind Dham
barefoot. The thirteen kilometre trek was made of cobble stones and was made by Tarwinder that everyone should go to the Gurdwara on
horseback. In hindsight that was the wisest decision. We reached the
dirt. At times the climb was very steep and treacherous. All along
Gurdwara around 9.30 AM. It was an awesome sight. Surrounded by
the route, approximately every five hundred meters was a small
humongous mountainous peaks on all sides I could see a small
shack that sold bottled water, cold drinks and tea and coffee. There
natural lake in the middle. The lake is known as LokpaI, and its
were make shift areas with 'durries' to lie down if you were tired
sanctity derived from its association with tales of the God. On the
and most places had comfortable chairs to take a well earned rest.
bank of this lake was a stream (Hem Ganga), which left the lake and
As you proceeded further up the mountain, such rest places offered
flowed down to meet the Ganges. By the side of the lake is the site
fresh tandoori Aloo Pranthas and rotis served with vegetable curries
of the Sikh temple, Hemkunt Sahib. A few meters away was
and tea or a cold drink. Limca, Pepsi, bottled mineral water and
Coke were readily available throughout the thirteen kilometre trek to situated a Hindu temple called the Shri Lakshman mandir. At
Gobind Dham.
All along the route, approximately every five hundred meters was a
small shack that sold bottled water, cold drinks and tea and coffee.
There were make shift areas with 'durries' to lie down if you were
tired and most places had comfortable chairs to take a well earned
rest. As you proceeded further up the mountain, such rest places
offered fresh tandoori Aloo Pranthas and rotis served with vegetable
curries and tea or a cold drink. Limca, Pepsi, bottled mineral water
and Coke were readily available throughout the thirteen kilometre
trek to Gobind Dharn.
I must admit the mountainous trek became more and more difficult
as time passed. I was sweating profusely and most of the way I was
saturated with my own sweat and the bottled water I was pouring on
my body to keep myself cool. I also soaked my handkerchief in cold
bottled water and wrapped it around my neck to cool the blood
going up the carotid arteries to tile brain. The whole trek was tough
but challenging. Everyone was saymg prayers as they walked. I also
started to quietly recite the prayers I had learnt during my earlier
years. Tarwinder was left far behind as he was bare feet and walking
at a slow pace.
I stopped every half hour or so to rest and replenish fluids. Talking
to other people on the way up took some uf the pain and discomfort
away. I even managed a fifteen minute power nap in one of the
shacks. Slowly but surely I reached the ten kilometre point where
an altitude of 4,329 meters, these are the highest temples in
India.
The following day the trek to Sri Hemkunt Sahib, six kilometres on
top of the mountain was started by our group at 7.00AM. A decision
was made by Tarwinder that everyone should go to the Gurdwara on
horseback. In hindsight that was the wisest decision. We reached the
Gurdwara around 9.30 AM. It was an awesome sight. Surrounded by
humongous mountainous peaks on all sides I could see a small
natural lake in the middle. The lake is known as Lokpal, and its
sanctity derived from its association with tales of the God. On the
bank of this lake was a stream (Hem Ganga), which left the lake and
flowed down to meet the Ganges. By the side of the lake is the site
of the Sikh temple, Hemkunt Sahib. A few meters away was situated
a Hindu temple called the Shri Lakshman mandir. At an altitude of
4,329 meters, these are the highest temples in India.
The Sikhs come in remembrance and prayer to see the place where
their tenth Guru meditated and realised his oneness with God in his
previous incarnation. The Hindus pay respect to God Lakshman, the
younger brother of Ram, who it is said to have meditated or done
penance at the lake. This mandir is also associated with Gods
Lakshman, Hanuman, Shiva and Vishnu. It is said that Lakshman
was brought to the shore of Lokpal after being mortally wounded in
a battle with the son of Ravana. Lakshman's wife wept and prayed
that her husband be saved. The monkey God Hanuman was then
able to find a lIfe-giving herb. When the herb was administered to ~
Lakshrnan,he
~
~
Hardwar, Badri,wth and Hemkunt Sahib-A trip of a
lifetime
fmfll page 6
................................................
miraculously revived. In celebration. God showered flowers from
heaven, which fell to earth and took root in the Valley of the Flowers.
Another story is told about Lakshman's previous incarnation as a
seven headed snake. In this form, so the local people say, he mediated
under the water at Lokpal and lord Vishnu slept on his back. The
name Lokpal refers to Vishnu, the sustainer, who looks after the
earth. Lokpal is also rumoured to be the native place of yet another
god Shiva. the destroyer, and his wife Parvati.
For the Sikhs, Hemkunt is the place of the Guru. A place high in the
Himalayan
mountains,
their tenth Guru alluded to in his
autobiographical Bachitra Natak. It is included in a compilation of
writings attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, known as the Dasam
Grallth. In these writings, the Guru tells of his origins. He describes
the place Hemkunl Parbat Sapat Sring, the "lake of ice" "mountain"
adorned with "seven peaks", as the same place where king Pandu, the
forefather of the five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata fame,
practised yoga. There, the Guru did intense meditation and austerities
until he merged with God. Because of his earthly parents had served
God, God was pleased with them and gave a commandment that the
Guru to be born to them. In the world he would carry out a mission to
teach the true religion and rid people of evil ways. He \vas reluctant
to leave his state of union with the creator, but God compelled him.
In this way the Guru took birth into the world.
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The following is an elaboration on the story of the Guru's previous
life as told in the passage from the Dasam Granlh. A powerful youth
was called into existence during Sat Yug, 'the age of truth' (the first
of four ages according to Hindu mythology) to do battle with fierce
demons that terrorized mortals and gods. When they had been
destroyed, the youth, known as Dusht Daman, 'the destroyer of evil',
was instructed to go to Hemkunt Sapatsring to meditate until he was
called upon by God. Guru Gobind Singh's own account in 8achitra
Natak completes this story. After realising his oneness with God
through meditation and austere discipline, he was reborn in Kal Yug,
the 'age of darkness', as the son of the ninth Guru and his wife. Later,
after his father's martyrdom, he became the tenth and tinal Guru of
the Sikhs.
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On arrival we all went to bathe in the lake. The water was icy cold. A
quick dip or two lasting not more than five seconds was enough to
send you scampering to dry land. People with glasses of hot steamy
tea stood waiting to offer it to you to make you warm.
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Hardwar town is the gateway to the abode of Gods. The mythological
and religious importance of Hardwar is well known. The 'Kumbh'
Please note:
and the 'Ardh Kumbh' fairs are held periodically, every twelveth and
• Application for the membership must be
sixth year in Hardwar, when a large number of pilgrims and devotees
accompanied by the appropriate fee
---converge to commemorate~this
dirine...,....eyenL-.Acc.or"d~i n"ig;;-.~to~~---~
•.--Annua~-rnemhership.is ....
fof-_one-calendaLyear
astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter
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e~
Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. According to mythology,
India Society of Victoria and forward it to ....
'Devas~-(Gods) and 'Asuras' (Demons) churned the ocean to obtain
Nectar and when the coveted 'Kumbha' (pitcher) of Nectar (Amrita)
The Secretary
which gave immortality was obtained from the depths of ocean, one
Australia India Society of Victoria Inc.
of the 'Devas' whisked away the 'Kumbha' from the 'Asuras' and
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evading from the 'Asuras', stopped at four places viz. Hardwar,
Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain before he finally arrived into
the safety of heaven. A few drops of Nectar are supposed to have
spilled over on the water at these four places and sages, saints and
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pilgrims started periodically to flock to each of these 'Tirthas' to cil-, •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
celebrate the divine event. In fact, it is a unique event that blends
r-:
religious and social features alike.
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•
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Dr. Gurdip Aurora is the current presidellt of the AISV who
took a recent fascinating trip to India. He has visited both
north Gnd south of India. His south India1l experience will
be the coming article.
Please complete the form & return it to the AISV Secretary:
Name __
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